At the end of the year, our dear friend Carlos González will return to his homeland, Guatemala. His beloved brother Mario González will be joining him soon.

Many of us have known and worked with Carlos and Mario for several decades. During this time, we have come to know them not only for their work ethic, incredible craftsmanship, and reliability, but more importantly, their kindness and gentle nature.

Carlos and Mario immigrated to the US to find opportunities for themselves and their family. While here, both worked tirelessly to make ends meet and provide a brighter future for their children and extended family. Their services became highly in demand because of their excellent work and kindness, garnering an overwhelming number of clients in and around the DC area. While the work opportunities never waned, they did confront many challenges. They faced illness and the loss of their younger brother, among other difficulties. However, through it all, Carlos and Mario never lost their warmth, humility, and willingness to help others.

Carlos will be returning to Guatemala with his ex-wife, who has an early onset of Alzheimer's, so he can care for her and she can live her final days among family and friends. Yet another demonstration of his generosity and infinite dedication to family. Mario will likely be joining Carlos at some point, although the timing has not been determined. Carlos will be moving to Guatemala permanently and is looking forward to visits from his daughter and granddaughter.

Through careful planning and coordination with family members, Carlos and Mario have constructed a new home and a small enterprise consisting of a cafe and a tourism lodge in the northwest corner of Guatemala, where the quetzal, the national symbol of Guatemala, soars over the canopy of the rainforest.

Their friends in the DC area would like to send them off to Guatemala with a retirement gift to thank them for all their help over the years and to support them as they transition to their new and well-deserved life in their homeland.

The quetzal holds significant cultural importance, symbolizing goodness and light in the ancient Mayan culture. It is very fitting that Carlos and Mario will be among the quetzals, as it's a reflection of who they are.

Thank you for your support, and please forward this request to others who may want to contribute.